Combination purse and billfold



Nov. 15, 1949 w. H ST. THOMAS 2,488,444

COMBINATION PURSE AND BILLFOLD Filed Aug. 6, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR.

William H. St. Thomas A'rrorneys 1949 w. H. ST. THOMAS COMBINATION PURSE AND BILLFOLD 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 6, 1947 INVENTOR. William H. St. Thomas Attorneys Patented Nov. 15, 1949 COMBINATION PURSE AND BILLFOLD William H. St. Thomas, Gloversville, N. Y., as-

signor to E. J. Wilkins Company, Gloversville, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application August 6, 1947, Serial No. 766,590

6 Claims. 1

This invention relates to pocketbooks and has more particular reference to pocketbooks of the type which comprises a combination purse and billfold.

One object of the invention is to provide a combined purse and billfold of novel construction which may be folded to permit it to be readily carried in a pocket or a handbag.

Another object of the invention is to provide a combined purse and billfold as characterized above, wherein access may be had to the billfold and the purse without unfolding the billfold and wherein access may be had to the purse and/or the billfold independently of each other.

A further object of the invention is to provide a combined purse and billfold as characterized above, wherein the billfold is provided with two accesses thereto and through which bills may be withdrawn.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following specification when considered with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing one form of combined purse and billfold constructed in accordance with the present invention, in an unfolded position;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the combined purse and billfold of Fig. 1, in folded position;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1, but showing the purse open; 4

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the combined purse and billfold showing the purse and billfold mouths open;

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic view, with parts broken away, showing the outline of one end of the wall forming members.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 4, one form of a combined purse and billfold constructed in accordance with the present invention and comprising a purse portion, indicated generally at III and having a. mouth or access opening II, and a billfold portion, indicated generally at l2 and having a mouth or access opening l3 and an elongated second access opening l4 provided with a zipper closure member l5.

The billfold is adapted to be folded on itself about a central transverse fold line, as shown in Fig. 2, and maintained in this folded position by fastening means such as cooperating snap fastener elements l6, I! mounted on the outer surface of the inner side of the billfold, each adjacent one end thereof.

The Purse portion includes a pair of opposed flexible wall members l8, I9 joined together throughout the greater portion of their periphery to form a purse space or compartment 20. The unjoined peripheral portions of the members form the mouth or access opening II to the purse compartment. In the particular embodiment shown, the wall members l8, [9 are identical in size and are substantially rectangular in outline. They are preferably made of leather and their peripheral edges are preferably joined together by sewing.

The billfold portion includes a pair of opposed flexible wall members 2|, 22 joined together throughout the greater portion of their periphery to form a billfold space or compartment 23, the unjoined peripheral portions of the members forming the mouth or access opening l3 to the billfold compartment. In the particular embodiment shown, the wall members 21, 22 are identical in size and shape and are substantiallyrectangular in outline. They are extremely longer and slightly wider than the wall members [8,. l9 which form the purse space. The wall members 2|, 22 are preferably made of cloth.

Means are provided for closing the mouths of the purse and billfold compartments, and for attaching the two compartments together. In the particular embodiment shown, such means comprise three U-shaped frame members 24, 25 and 26. The frame members are of the usual construction and have their corresponding legs pivotally connected together, as at 2] and 28. The frame member 24 is suitably secured, as by crimping, to the unjoined peripheral edge portion of the purse wall member l8; the frame member 25 is secured, as by crimping, to the free edge portion of the purse wall member I!) and to the free edge portion of the billfold wall member 2|; the frame member 26 is secured, as by crimping, to the free edge portion of the billfold wall member 22. The middle frame member 25 is provided with a fastener member 29 adapted to cooperate with co-fastener members 30 and 3|, carried by the frame members 24 and 26, respectively. The

opened enclosed-and locked in the closed position independently of each other.

murder to hold the purse compartment in place againstthe billfold compartment and to give the combined purse and billfold a more flnished appearance, an outer cover wall member 32 may be provided. The wall member 32 is similar in size and shape-to the billfold wall members 2|, 22

and is secured to these members throughout the greater portion of its periphery. Preferably, and

' v as shown in the drawings, the cover wall member is provided with a flange 33 which is folded over the peripheral edges of the wall members 2|, 22, and all three members, including the flange, secured together by stitching 3| to form a hemmed edge. The unattached edge portion of the cover wall member extends over the outer purse wall member I! and is secured to the frame member fold compartment, the outer billfold wall member 22 is provided with a longitudinal slot or opening N, located preferably adjacent the upp r edge and extending intermediate the side edges, as shown in.Fig. 1. The opening it may be-provided with suitable closure means. such as a slide fastener ii. In addition, the opening or slot ll may have a reinforcing border member 35, preferably made of leather.

In addition to the billfold compartment 23, a second billfold space or compartment 38 may be provided, if desired. The billfold space 36 is formed between the outer billfold wall member 22 and a wall member 31 coextensive in length with, but narrower than the wall member 22. The wall member 31 is secured to the wall member 22 along its bottom and right hand side edges, as viewed in Fig. 1, and has its left hand edge secured to the frame member 28.

d A card space 38 may be provided, if desired, by securing a wall member 39 along its bottom, top and right hand edges, as viewed in Fig. 1, to the wall member 31. Preferably, and as shown in the drawings, the bottom and right hand side edges of the wall members 31 and 33 are enclosed by the folded over flange 33 and secured by the stitching 34.-

Preferably, the wall members 31 and 39 are made of leather and are of a sufficient width to slightly overlap the lower edge of the leather border member 35. This construction insures that the entire exposed surfaces of the combined purse and billfold will be of leather, thereby improving appearance and wearing quality.

While the purse wall members I 8, 20, the billfoldwall members 2|, 22, the outer cover wall member 32, and the wall member 31 have been described as substantially rectangular in outline,

' are secured, as by crimping, to the leg portions of the frame members, thus providing greater fullness in the mouths of the compartments, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that there and one which permits ready access to the billfold without exposing the contents thereof and ready access to the coin purse without'opening the billfold.

What is claimed is:

1. A combined purse and billfold comprising three flexible, substantially rectangular we" members secured together to form two elongated pockets both open at the same end, one of said elongated pockets having a longitudinal opening to provide a second access to the pocket; three frame members hingedly connected together, with each frame member respectively secured to one of said wall members; a purse pocket within the upper end portion of the other of said elongatd pockets and defined by a. flexible wall member secured together along its edges and extending between the wal1 members of said other elongated pocket and having its mouth accessible through the pair of hinged frame members secured to the wall members of the elongated pocket in which the purse pocket is formed.

2. A combined purse and billfold comprising three flexible, substantially rectangular wall I members secured together to form two elongated pockets both open at the same end, one of said pockets being adapted to receive money bills flatwise therein and having a longitudinal access opening at one side to provide a second access thereto for the lateral insertion and removal of bills therethrough; three frame members hinged together on a common axis, with each frame member secured to one of the respective wall members to provide separate mouth closures for said pockets; and a coin purse within the upper end portion of the other of said elongated p ckets defined by flexible walls connected at their upper ends to the frame members forming the mouth closure of said other elongated pocket, said purse having its bottom end below the hinge axis of said frame members. I

3. A combined purse and billfold comprising three U-shaped frame members having their legs hingedly connected together for pivotal movement about a common axis; two elongated pockets having their mouth openings at the same end, said pockets being defined by three substantially rectangular and superposed flexible walls connected to each other at one of their ends and along the greater portion of their longitudinal edges; the cross bars and legs of said frame members being secured to the unconnected portions of the edges of the respective wall members to provide separate mouth closures for said pockets; one of said elongated pockets being adapted to receive money bills therein and having an elongated longitudinal opening for the lateral insertion and withdrawal of bills therethrough; and a coin purse within the upper end portion of the other of said elongated pockets, said purse having flexible walls connected at their upper ends to the frame members forming the mouth closure of said other elongated pocket.

4. A combined coin purse and billfold, comprising three U-shaped frame members hinged on a common axis; two substantially rectangular and substantially coextensive flexible wall members secured at one end to the respective outer frame members and connected together at the other end and along their side edges; a

,purse pocket having flexible side walls secured to the middle frame member and one of said outer fram members and secured together along their side edges with a closed bottom below the cam hinge axis of said frame members; a third, substantially rectangular flexible wall member hav- 118 one end also secured to the middle frame member and projecting downwardly below the purse pocket into the space between said first named wall members with its longitudinal edges secured to the longitudinal edges of the first named wall members and coacting therewith to define a bill pocket separated from the purse pocket; and the one of said first named wall members remote from the coin purse having a longitudinal opening adjacent to one of its side edges to provide an access opening to the bill pocket for the lateral insertion and removal of bills therethrough, said frame members providing separate access to the purse pocket and the bill pocket.

5. A combined purse and billfold comprising three flexible and substantially rectangular wall members secured together along one end edge and along the greater portion of the length of their side edges to form two elongated pockets, both open at the same end; three U-shaped frame members pivoted on a common axis having their cross bars and legs secured to the open end and free side edge portions of the respective wall members to provide separate mouth closures for said pockets; one of said pockets being adapted to receive money bills fiatwise with one of their ends projecting into the mouth portion and accessible therethrough for endwise removal; the outside wall member of the bill re ceiving pocket having a longitudinal opening adiacent to one side edge extending from the closed end portion of said pocket to a point beyond the hinge axis of the frame members, for the lateral insertion and removal of bills therethrough; a coin purse positioned within the mouth end portion of the other of said elongated pockets having a pair of generally rectangular wall forming members secured along one end edge and along a portion of each side edge to the cross bars and legs of the respective frame members forming the mouth closure of said elongated pocket, said purse wall forming members extending into said other elongated pocket beyond the hinge axis of said frame members and being connected together at their edges beyond the hinge axis to form the bottom portion of the purse pocket.

6. A combination purse and billfold comprising three U-shaped frame members hinged together on a common axis; substantially rectangular and substantially coextensive pocketforming outer wall members connected together at one end and along a major. portion of the length of their side edges enclosing a bill receiving compartment, the free edge portions of said wall members being connected to the legs and cross bars of the respective outer frame members; and a coin purse having a closed pocket portion below the hinge axis of said frame members with its walls having free edges which are connected to the legs and cross bars of the middle frame member and one of the outer frame members, respectively, member of the bill receiving compartment remote from the coin purse having an elongated opening therein for the lateral insertion and removal of bills therethrough.

WILLIAM H. ST. THOMAS.

nnrnanncns orrnn The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES m'rnm's the rectangular wail 

